Marie Nutting, President

I was born in Livermore, California , but I lived in Ione from the time I was seven years old until I married. My husband worked for the California Department of Forestry and due to transfers we lived in Napa county, Lake county and then 25 years in El Dorado county. After my husband’s retirement and a 36 year absence, we decided to move back home to Ione.

I graduated from Ione High School in 1963. I attended one year of college at Chico State  and 20 years after my children were grown I got an AA in business. I ran a small business for eight years until my husband’s retirement.

I grew up on top of Main Street and saw the Castle every day. I have never stopped loving the sight of the Castle and hope never to lose sight of it.

Marie serves on the Tours, Visitors Center, Site Development, and By-laws Committees.

Jerry Funderburgh, Vice President

I was born and raised in Southern California , and received my bachelor’s degree in electronic engineering at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and an MBA from Santa Clara University . I lived in the San Jose area for 35 years, working as a high tech executive in Silicon Valley . 

To enjoy the small town lifestyle, my wife and I retired and moved to Ione in 2005. We both see the Preston Castle as the preeminent landmark in Amador county and want to do what we can to help preserve, restore, and rehabilitate it into a functional and useful facility.

Jerry serves on the Marketing, Finance, Site Development, and By-laws Committees.

Kim Kozlowski, Treasurer

I was born in Castro Valley, California, and grew up in Hayward, Dublin, and Livermore.  My educational career started with an AA degree in Accounting and Business Management from Heald College. After working many years in the accounting department of a local hospital in Hayward, I migrated to Washington state, where I continued my education while working for the State of Washington at Clark College, a junior college in Vancouver. There I worked directly with the college’s controller in the accounting department. A few years later, California called this girl home, and I settled in the Sacramento area, where I completed my BA in Accounting and Business Management.

I worked as the controller for numerous business entities for many years, when an extreme life change event occurred, and my husband and I moved to Amador County to be closer to my Mom. My parents had migrated to Ione many years before and had become passionate about Preston Castle . Having spent so much time at “Castle” functions over the years, their passion soon became mine, and it has been with great honor to be a part of the Preston Castle Foundation’s effort to restore this incredible building, whose history gives me chills. It was a dream of my Dad’s to see it put back to a useful purpose, and it’s my dream to do what I can to aide in making that happen. The Castle can be seen from my parents’ front lawn. I hope never to lose sight of it!

Kim serves on the Finance Committee.

Carol Lipchik

I received a BA degree in education/psychology from Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania. I spent 21 years working at the county of San Diego Assessors Office as a Supervising Real Estate Appraiser of Commercial and Residential properties. I also spent eight years working in San Diego as a Real Estate Broker and Sales Agent, after moving from Erie.

After retiring, I came to Ione in September of 2007.  I am delighted to have found an active community of enthusiastic people.  Preston Castle attracted my attention immediately, and it's history and architecture are well worth preserving.  I hope to be a part of this endeavor until its completion.

Carol serves on the Site Development and Site Rental Committees.

Allan Trimble

Allan serves on the Grants and By-laws Committees.

Named Donna Wooley at birth in 1934, I was raised in the Bay Area. I graduated from Hayward High School and continued my education at San Jose State, where I earned my Early Childhood Education Degree. After teaching preschool for several years, I co-founded and directed a co-operative preschool of 70 students per year. My career spanned 25-plus years working alongside parents and students. Nearly 40 years later, my co-director still successfully operates this cooperative preschool.

I married Bob Ogelvie in 1951. Our retirement brought us to beautiful Ione in Amador county. We soon discovered Preston Castle. My husband, Bob, developed a passion for restoring this magnificent historical building. He worked tirelessly for approximately ten years toward that goal. During that time he held the position of treasurer for the Preston Castle Foundation. Bob's enthusiasm and passion was contagious, and I developed a deep desire to follow his goal-setting path to completion.

I am honored to be a member of the Board of Directors for the Preston Castle Foundation. Taking tiny steps to accomplish the goal of restoration, hopefully God grants me the life years to complete this worthy journey.

Donna serves on the Historical Committee.

Yvonne Funderburgh

I was born and raised in the Bay Area, where I worked as a Medical Assistant, Registered Dental Assistant, and Office Manager. When it was time for my husband and I to retire, we searched all over the Northern California foothills for the perfect spot to live. We found it in Ione and moved here in 2005, and soon became involved in the beautiful and historic Preston Castle.

I have worked hard to build up our tours, and now we include school children, clubs, tour companies, photographers, film companies, and paranormal investigators. Each year we have attracted many more people to see this magnificent structure and grounds. In the not too distant future, I fully expect to see the Preston Castle site become a useful, important destination in the mother lode and reclaim and display it's former grandeur.

Yvonne serves on the Tours and Landscape Committees.

Howard Coote

My family history in this area goes back several generations, starting in 1848 when my great grandparents settled in the Ione Valley.  My great grandfather was a blacksmith and my grandfather was Ione’s freight agent for many years.  My mother, her sister and two brothers were born and raised here.

I was born in Ione, but was raised up and down the San Joaquin Valley.  I graduated from Galt High School and earned an AA degree from San Joaquin Delta College.  My family moved back to Ione and I worked with my father in farming, and then became a heavy equipment operator at a saw mill.

Growing up, we made many visits to Ione and always went by the Preston School of Industry, trying to catch a glimpse of a guard patrolling the fence on horseback, or the boys working in the fields.  The Castle in those days was as impressive as it is today.

Howard serves on the Building Committee.

Dale Hofstetter

Born and raised in Oregon, I graduated from North Salem High School and from Oregon College of Education with a B.S. degree in Junior High Education.  I taught English, social studies and physical education to upper elementary age children.  However, most of my time was spent appraising real estate, and I was also involved in selling real estate, managing an Oregon Veterans Loan office, and selling insurance.

My wife and I came to Placerville in 1987 to a new venture as owners of Country Cooking restaurant.  We sold the restaurant after 5 1/2 years of fun and work, and I returned to selling and appraising real estate.  I was an Appraiser in Nevada County and a Supervising Appraiser in Calaveras County from where I retired.

We built our new home on a hill overlooking the Preston Castle, and joined the Foundation shortly afterwards.  I look forward to help with advancing the preservation and restoration of the building.  

Dale serves on the Administration Committee

Sheila Pember

I am a residential appraiser and co-owner of Gold Country Appraisals. Formerly a Communications Director for a Fortune 500 company, I specialized in technical writing and research for nearly 20 years. Originally from southern California, I’ve lived in Jackson for the last ten years with my husband, Rich, and other favorite companion, Chubbs, our yellow Labrador retriever.

As a writer, I was drawn to the majesty and mystique of Preston Castle while reading about it in the local newspaper. I am committed to developing non-profit policies and procedures to help guide the Foundation’s continued success for years to come. It is an honor to be a part of such a talented group of people who are so dedicated to preserving the historical significance and natural splendor of the Castle.

Sheila serves on the Grants Committee.

Richard Forster

I was born in South Laguna, California, but have lived in Amador County since 1975 and am a proud fifth generation Californian. I graduated from Ione High School, and the University of California, Davis, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural and Managerial Economics.  Besides representing District II on the Amador County Board of Supervisors, I work for the California Department of Corrections, Division of Juvenile Justice.

I have also served on the Amador Water Agency Board of Directors, the Ione Planning Commission, and the Ione Technical Advisory Committee.  I am past President of the Native Sons of the Golden West, Ione #33, the Amador/El Dorado/Sacramento Cattlemen’s Association, the Amador County Fair Board of Directors, and the Ione Picnic Association.  I currently serve on the Board of Directors for the Ione Business & Community Association and the Sutter Amador Hospital Foundation Board, and am a member of the Ione Rotary.  I am also a former Chairman of the Regional Council of Rural Counties (RCRC), an organization representing the interests of 31 rural counties. 

My wife and I are strong supporters of the efforts to preserve and rehabilitate the magnificent Preston Castle.

Richard serves on the Donations Committee.

Carol Hambaugh